Game Day Open Thread: Phoenix Suns vs. New Jersey Nets
by TexSUN on Jan 20, 2008 2:47 PM MST
in Phoenix Suns: Game Coverage
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 Phoenix Suns |
|
 New Jersey Nets |
| 28-12 | 18-21 | |
| 6:00 PM Mountain / 8:00 PM Eastern | ||
| TV: FSN AZ HD, NBATV High Def | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Steve Nash | PG | Jason Kidd |
| Raja Bell | SG | Vince Carter |
| Shawn Marion | SF | Richard Jefferson |
| Boris Diaw | PF | Sean Williams |
| Amare Stoudemire | C | Josh Boone |
The Suns take on the New Jersey Nets at home tonight. The last time these two teams were seen on the same floor together, they combined for 318 points in one of the two double-overtime classics involving the Suns last season. With Grant Hill still recovering from his appendectomy, the Suns will be starting the same five players that took the floor in that game a little over a year ago. The Nets starting lineup will look a little different, with Sean Williams now starting ahead of Jason Collins, and Josh Boone starting for the injured Nenad Krstic. But the two stars from that evening should both be present and accounted for. Steve Nash and Jason Kidd combined for 80 points and 27 assists that night. Kidd also tied Wild Chamberlain for third most triple-doubles, adding 14 rebounds. Nash got his 42 points on a 16-of-25 shooting night that included 6-of-7 three pointers. More of the same tonight? Well, the basketball fan in me would love it, but the Suns fan in me would rather the game look more like the one two nights ago. With the Suns facing a four game road trip East, perhaps a good old-fashioned 48-minute affair would be best. Still, the Suns tend to bring out the best in the Nets, so a close, competitive nail-biter seems likely.
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Q1 10:52 - Lids on the baskets
...well, until Jason Kidd found Sean Williams as I was typing that. Suns are still looking for their first score as Raja Bell misses a three. 2-0, Nets.
Q1 9:45 - And the first Suns score of the night...
...goes to Diaw! On a dunk. Where's "Dunk it Boris" tonight?
..Amare gets a dunk of his own to put the Suns up by two. 4-2, Suns.
Q1 6:41 - Nice defense...
...to save the possession as Diaw deflects and Raja steals. Nash ends up with two. 16-10, Suns.
Q1 5:10 - That works better when Nash throws it
Wow.. Wild alley-oop attempt between LB and Marion. You know a pass is off when even the Matrix can't reach it.
Q1 3:52 - Brick fest
...or maybe just good defense.
But as I say that, Skinner gets a Marion-like dunk off the fast break.
Q1 1:18 - DJ gets the call again
Looks like Mike D'Antoni is going to stick with DJ as the eighth man in Hill's absence. He just entered the game. Suns will close the fourth with LB, DJ, Bell, Diaw, and Skinner.
DJ picks up an assist right away on the Diaw jumper.
Q1 00:25 - Go Boris!
Nice moves ending in the hook shot. Looks like this is a "good game" night for him.
Q1 00.3 - Beep beep!
With a couple of seconds left, LB gets all the way down the floor and gets fouled on the way up.
After one
Suns lead 35-20 after one. Guess my prediction of a close game isn't holding so far. Suns are shooting 56.5%, Nets 42.1%. Suns are also out-rebounding the Nets 12-8. Suns are 4-8 from three, and the Nets are 0-3.
Q2 11:32 - Something from nothing
LB beats the shot clock for a three. Nachbar gets a three of his own. 38-23, Suns.
Q2 9:56 - Second unit really doing well
...if you can really call it a "second unit" with two starters on the floor. But the lineup of Diaw, Skinner, Bell, DJ, and LB is really doing well, especially in hustling for rebounds.
Q1 6:56 - Starters back in
The second unit held the fort very well with Nash, Amare, and Marion on the bench. All three are back in now.
Q2 5:07 - Foul trouble for the Matrix
Out with his third, after picking up the loose ball foul while going for a rebound. Mike D. goes with the three-guard lineup. Gets off to a good start with the Nash three to bring the lead back to 14. 48-34, Suns.
Q2 2:47 - Fortunately that three went...
That was such a nice around-the-back pass from Nash, it would have been a shame if it hadn't been counted as an assist. Raja for three (again). Suns up 54-36.
Q2 1:33 - Foul Trouble II
This time LB. More playing time for DJ looks like. Actually, I kind of like this. A chance to see DJ on the floor with Nash.
Q2 00:36 - Nice hustle by DJ...
...trying to grab that rebound on its way out of bounds. Didn't work, but right idea.
At the half
Suns up 56-45 at the half. The Suns shooting is down to 43.8%, and the Nets are up to 48.6%. But the Suns have 8 three-pointers, while the Nets just have one. The Suns still have a slight edge on the boards, 23-21. Boris Diaw could possibly end up with a triple-double if he keeps it up. He's at 8 points, 4 assists, 7 rebounds so far. I'm most impressed with how he's fighting for rebounds. He also has a couple of steals.
Q3 11:27 - Well-timed three by Marion
...just as it looked like the Nets might bring it back to single-digits. Two by Boris expands the lead back to 15 at 61-46.
Q3 9:36 - D'oh!
Marion with the nice steal, but blows the layup with a bit of help from the Nets' defense.
Q3 8:21 - Diaw gets the assist anyway
Had a nice one to Marion, but that got taken away with a foul call on Kidd. Gets it to Amare on the inbounds for the jumper.
Q3 7:45 - Nets right back in it...
...but not for long. Nash and Amare team up to restore the double-digit lead at 67-56.
Q3 4:43 - Matrix takes over where Amare left off
Alley oop to Marion this time for another dunk and a ninth assist for Nash
Q3 3:48 - D'oh! II
Suns to sleep on defense that time. LB gets it back plus one with the three on the other end. 80-64, Suns.
Q3 1:47 - D'oh! III
Nash fouls Kidd on a three. Should be three free throws coming up after the break.
Q3 00:45 - DJ with the defense
This time helps block a shot twice, then grabs the rebound. Bell's three on the other end opens the lead back to 16 at 87-71.
After three
Suns are up 89-73 after three. Looked like Jason Kidd might have hurt a knee or ankle when he slipped while chasing LB around on that last play.
The three ball continues to be the biggest difference in this game.
Q4 11:21 - Go Boris! II
Nice spin move that time. A couple of games ago, I joked about how having a good outing every other game would be a huge step in the right direction for Boris. So far, looks like that's what he's doing. That would mean he's due for a subpar showing in the next game, but at least we get Grant Hill back for that one.
Q4 10:43 - Lineup to start the fourth
Amare, Boris, Raja, DJ, LB. Same as the one that held the fort down so well in the second with Amare in place of skinner.
Q4 9:10 - Everyone spinning tonight
Amare, Boris, now Raja with a spin move. Seems to be working. 96-79, Suns.
Q4 9:02 - Starters minus Raja
Raja and LB out, Nash and Marion in. So we get a look at maybe our "future Raja" in DJ playing with the other starters.
Q4 7:27 - DJ with the steal
...for the second time tonight. Nice up and under on the previous possession too to get himself on the scoreboard.
cool
nice to see suns up by so much...I don't know how to say this....I've been watching football. I'm not a football fan, I never have been. But the district manager of my account is a huge cowboys fan, and I like the guy, he's cool. So, and being in Texas, I figure I'd give it a chance...and...I'm beginning to like it. I doubt I'll follow it super close, but the playoffs have been exciting and I have been following Dallas this season.
nba.com still has suns game score at 0 to 0
weird
Try ESPN
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280120021
...and aren't the Cowboys out of the playoffs?
yep, but
I'm more watching to watch and see if I like it, so far, its ok, games go quicker than I thought. Big story with N.England being undefeated this season, many other great story lines....
my laptop is pretty hot,
I've had it on all day, need to turn it off for an hour, and I have to go take some pictures...
later
Q4 4:01 - Victory parade begins
Nash goes out with 13 points and 9 assists. LB takes his place. 105-85, Suns.
Q4 2:30 - Ugly miss by Marion
...but I think we'll give him a pass. He's been kind of the unsung hero tonight, with five steals to go with this 16/11 double-double.
hey
I read that the suns have beaten the nets at home (in phx) the last 13 years WOW!!!
and the streak continues
Q4 2:00 - Victory parade continues
Suns lineup now consists of Banks, LB, Pike, Marks, and DJ. Suns lead 109-88.
Q4 00:44 - Volleyball?
Gotta love garbage time. Aimless batting around of the ball eventually ends in a turnover. 114-92, Suns...make that 116-92 after DJ closes out the Suns' scoring with a jumper.
And that's the game
Final score 116-92. Not exactly the nail-biter I predicted, but like I said in the preview, that's what we want with a four-game road trip on the horizon. Good effort by Boris Diaw aka co-POG. Hopefully, he can keep it up from the bench once Grant Hill re-joins the lineup on Tuesday.
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